MOSCOW, March 18, /ITAR-TASS/. Industrial and business groups in European countries are opposing economic sanctions against Russia, First Deputy President of the Russian Engineering Union, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Industry Vladimir Gutenev said on Monday.

“Despite quite belligerent rhetoric by political circles over possible economic sanctions against Russia the industrial unions of Germany, Italy, France, Britain, the Czech Republic and other countries are continuing consultations with their governments, being aware of threats to their national economies,” said Gutenev.

A constant productive dialogue with European industrial groups and associations went on, he added.

“Business is keen to develop economic relations with Russia, and our hope is that the present level of partnership is sufficient to transform into poised and well-considered political decisions,” Gutenev said.

“Crimea has a whole range of successfully operating facilities. We shall be actively involving [them] in industrial cooperation. The peninsula’s population will only benefit as a result,” Gutenev said.

A considerable number of technical universities are members of the Union, and many universities, especially those located in the Russian regions bordering with Ukraine, the Rostov and the Belgorod Regions and the Krasnodar Territory expressed their wish to accept Crimean citizens studying at Ukrainian universities outside Crimea. The purpose was for them to painlessly move and complete education at Russian universities, if need be, said Gutenev.